[1] The eponymous central character, Mother Vittoria Bracciano, is similar to that of "Monk" Lewis's Ambrosio, as she is likewise motivated by dark and powerful forces.

The epigraph states that it is lifted from Shakespeare; however it is actually taken from John Dryden's 1679 rewrite of Troilus and Cressida.

AfterI his wife (Marchese di Carnaro) died, he became quite reclusive and rarely sees his daughter.

His name isn't revealed till partway through Volume 1 of the novel, which increases the mystery surrounding his character.

During the opening mass, Conte Marcello notices the beauty of the young nun, Maddalena Rosa.

He revisits the convent again hoping to see her, but on leaving he is detained by a mysterious monk insisting he has important information for the Conte.

Upon returning home, Marcello is greeted by his close friend Vivani, whom he tells that he saw a beautiful woman.

At eleven o'clock, Marcello leaves the party and heads to the convent, when he notices that he is being followed by three cloaked figures.

After wrapping a small wound on his arm, he returns to the scene to find the attackers’ bodies gone.

When he gets back to his home, Marcello is greeted by his panicked servants, who note his injury and rush to fetch a surgeon.

Maddelena's account covers a similar version of events, demonstrating that she too noticed Marcello at the service.

After the service, the young nun is overcome with emotion, leading to her having a walk through the convent gardens with her good friend Marietta.

Before dying, Marietta tells Maddalena not to stray from the path of virtue and that the conte is worthy of her affections.

The conte later returns to Santa Maria to fulfil his commitment to the Abbess, and on arrival gets drunk in order to become unconscious.

She convinces him to leave before the pair are interrupted by the Abbess and the monk (who turns out to be Padre Ubaldo).

Maddalena is summoned by Sister Beatrice and is in turn interrogated, although her ignorance is true, resulting in her being locked in her cell.

Determined to get rid of Maddalena, Padre Ubaldo leaves to persuade Ducca Bertocci to send his daughter away, in which he succeeds.

The young nun is awakened in the middle of the night by sister Beatrice, who tells her to prepare for a journey.